Foreign legion military conflicts. Legendary Legion

After hearing stories of military romance and the big money that legionnaires receive for their service, some men think about the French legion. How to get into it? To understand how everything really is in him, you need to carefully understand and before sending to the recruiting center, weigh the pros and cons well.

History of the creation of the French Legion

The French Foreign Legion was founded by King Louis-Philippe I of Orleans of France on 03/09/1831. The base of the military formation was the infantry and cavalry regiments that existed earlier. The legion was staffed predominantly by foreign citizens of various nationalities. In August 1914, there were 42,883 people in it, who were representatives of 52 nations and nationalities. In 2009, about 7.5 thousand people from 136 countries of the world served in eleven regiments.

France needed additional military formations, since the colonization of Algeria was planned. In addition to military tasks, the foreign legion helped to cope with internal issues. So, for example, the problem of overpopulation in the country and the reduction in the number of "undesirable" strata of the population, such as emigrants from colonies and criminals, was solved. The king signed a decree on the use of the legion exclusively outside France.

Legion composition and motto

The commanding staff of the compound was created from officers of Napoleon's army. The soldiers were recruited natives of Spain, Italy, Switzerland and residents of other European countries, as well as the French who had problems with the law. It was at this time that the tradition arose - not to ask the name of the new soldier.

The motto of the French Foreign Legion is: "The Legion is our Fatherland." In order for recruits to be more loyal to him, they are completely restricted from contact with outside world for 5 years. After that, the military formation itself becomes both a home and a family for the soldiers.

Red and green are the official colors of the legion. Red represents blood and green represents France. When the unit carries out fighting, his pennant is hung with the red side up, which means "Blood on the country."

Legion uniform and symbolism

Legionnaires are easily recognizable by their headdress white that ordinary soldiers have. The beret of the French Foreign Legion is green and is worn by all fighters. Both recruits and officers alike wear legendary Rangers boots. A pomegranate and seven flames are the crest of the formation. Symbols, awards and distinctive signs have not changed since their introduction and are used today.

The uniform of the French Foreign Legion is divided into ceremonial and weekend. Both have grey colour and differ from each other only in that epaulettes and a blue belt made of fabric are used instead of shoulder straps.

A special feature of the unit is the official march, which is performed in a standing position to attention, except for the case when it is sung during the march. Another feature is marching itself. Other army units walk at 120 steps per minute, but here it is only 88 steps. This is due to the fact that the legion often participated in military campaigns in African countries, where there was sandy soil in the places of deployment of the units, which made it difficult to move.

Campaigns of the French Legion in the early 19th century

In the 19th century, the French legion held eleven military campaigns in various countries.

Here are some of them:

From 1831 to 1882 there was a campaign called "French Algeria". About 35 thousand soldiers were sent to the territory of this state, and after half a century of battles, the country was occupied by France.
From 1835 to 1839, the French army conducted military campaign in Spain. She participates in the so-called Carlist War.
From 1853 to 1856, the legion was a participant in the Crimean War, together with its allies - the British and Ottoman Empires, as well as the Kingdom of Sardinia - against Russia. In this campaign, the French were killed most of all, almost 100 thousand people.
In 1859, the legion takes part in the Austro-Italian-French war, in which it wins, and the territories of the Kingdom of Sardinia retreat to France.

Participation in wars in the late 19th - early 20th centuries

In this list, you should definitely pay attention to:

In 1861-1867, the French army and legionnaires intervened in Mexico. The Franco-Mexican war begins, which ended with the victory of the local government under the leadership of Benito Juarez.
From 1882 to 1907, the second Algerian campaign in South Oran lasted, in which the French legion took part.
In Vietnam (Tonkin) from 1883 to 1910, legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion are involved in numerous hostilities.
In 1885, a foreign formation invades Taiwan - the so-called Formosa campaign (one of the names of the island).
From 1892 to 1894, an occupation military operation was carried out in the kingdom of Dahomey (the current territory of Benin and Togo).
In Sudan, from 1893 to 1894, legionnaires are taking military action, which, among other things, has resulted in the division of the country into two parts (Sudan and South Sudan).
From 1895 to 1901, foreign recruits are fighting on the island of Madagascar. After that, in 1897, the island became a French colony.

Military operations at the beginning of the 20th century

This period was marked by the following incidents:

From 1907 to 1914, the French Foreign Legion fought Spanish, British and German forces for the possession of the territories of Morocco. As a result, France became the owner of most of the Moroccan lands.
In the First World War of 1914-1918, the French military opposed the armies of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The result of the war was the German and Austro-Hungarian surrender.
From 1914 to 1918, legionnaires participate in military clashes in the Middle East for influence in the region and the definition of new borders Ottoman Empire.
From 1914 to 1940, the forces of the formation occupied Tonkin (Vietnam), as well as part of Laos and Cambodia. These territories were in the sphere of influence of France until the very beginning of World War II and were called French Indochina.
From 1920 to 1935, foreign legionnaires again invaded Morocco and expanded the territory of French possessions.
In Syria in 1925, a national liberation uprising against French troops begins. Initially, the Syrian rebels are making progress, but after the strengthening of military formations in 1927, the uprising was completely suppressed, and Syria became practically a French colony.

Operations carried out in the middle of the 20th century

Among them, special attention should be paid to the following:

France, including the legion, took part in World War II from 1939 to 1945. They were part of the anti-Hitler coalition, but at the same time the French Vichy government was a puppet and was completely dependent on Nazi Germany.

In the Indo-China War, also known as the War of Resistance, which lasted from 1945 to 1954, the forces of the foreign legion and the regular army of France fought the Vietnamese to preserve the colonies.
From 1947 to 1950, the legion participated in the suppression of the Madagascar Uprising, in which the peoples of Madagascar fought for independence from France. The demonstration was suppressed, and its participants were executed, sent to concentration camps and prisons.
The French armed forces and legionnaires from 1952 to 1954 suppressed the uprising and the struggle for the independence of Tunisia. As a result, Tunisians achieved independence from France in 1956.
War for the sovereignty of Morocco, which lasted from 1953 to 1956 between French troops, legionnaires and the Moroccan liberation army, ended with a victory last. And at the beginning of March 1956, the liberation from the French invaders was proclaimed.

Campaigns of the French Legion at the end of the 20th century

Military units took part in the following conflicts:

From 1954 to 1961, the war for the independence of Algeria lasted between French troops and Algerian rebels. Despite the fact that the French were victorious, they had to recognize the sovereignty of Algeria for economic and political reasons.
In 1978, the legion took part in military clashes in Zaire against the National Liberation Front. In them, the French troops won.
From 1982 to 1983, legionnaires were involved in military operations in Lebanon during the First Lebanon War.

In 1991, the French Foreign Legion was among the invaders of the Al-Salman airport in Iraq. This is one of the episodes of the Gulf War, which was unleashed by the United States.

From 1992 to 1996, units of the Foreign Legion were involved in the so-called UN peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Bosnia. As a result, it only intensified and acquired an even larger scale, and the UN forces had to admit their inability to resolve the conflict. In Bosnia, NATO forces and legionnaires supported the genocide of Serbs by Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks). The result of these events was the death of about 110 thousand people.

Participation in hostilities dating back to the late XX - early XXI century

And here are the most modern combat campaigns:

Another "glorious" campaign of the legionnaires was participation in 1999 in military operation NATO, bearing the name "Allied Force". In its course, NATO troops bombed Yugoslavia and killed about 4 thousand people, including 400 children and about 2 thousand civilians. In fact, the legion was a participant in illegal hostilities, since the UN did not issue a mandate to conduct an operation on the territory of Yugoslavia.

In 2013, the French Foreign Legion fought in combat operations in the African country of Mali.
Since 2016, the legion has been used as an auxiliary force for the Iraqi regular army in Iraqi territory. The war that the United States unleashed with its allies in 2003, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's power, spilled over into a civilian channel. And also there were numerous terrorist groups fighting against the Iraqi army. During the war, according to the United States, about 95 thousand Iraqis died, however, according to some other sources, the death toll exceeded one million people.

The history of the French Foreign Legion shows that, setting itself good goals for and saving the French in other territories, the legion actually turned into ordinary mercenaries who are alien to morality and common sense. Basically, he is involved in military aggression and the suppression of various liberation movements.

French Legion. How to get?

If all of the above does not remove the question of how to get into the French legion, then for this, first of all, you need to independently issue a visa and come to one of the reception points. Recruitment points for recruits are located in the following cities:

Paris.
Lille.
Strasbourg.
Nantes.
Aubagne.
Lyon.
Bordeaux.
Nice.
Marseilles.
Toulouse.
Perpignan.

Anyone who wants to become a legionnaire can contact any of these centers around the clock throughout the week, as they work seven days a week.

However, not everyone will be accepted into the French legion, as there are strict rules and selection criteria. Only men from 18 to 40 years old, physically strong, prepared for service and having a valid passport are accepted there. Newcomers undergo a medical examination and interview in Paris, and then, if the candidate passes the initial selection, he will face the main competition at the base located in the city of Aubagne.

Selection

There are several tests for those who want to become a legionnaire. These are medical, sports and psychotechnical.

The medical test includes:

Dental conditions - healthy teeth, the number of extracted teeth is no more than six.

Surgical and general medical criteria - the absence of any serious diseases or their complete cure, documented; the presence of medical certificates and medical records, testifying to complete physical health.

The series of sports checks includes:

Shuttle run, accompanied by sound effects - from seven approaches, six times 20 meters each.

Pulling up on the bar - from four times.

Climbing the rope to a height of more than five meters.

Strength exercises for the press, performed 40 times or more.

Psychotechnical tests are:

Various tasks to test memory, logical thinking and attention.

Particular attention is paid to the past life of a potential recruit, so a detailed survey is conducted.

Based on the test results, a decision is made on the recruit's admission to service in the legion or his elimination. In case of a positive decision, a five-year contract is signed with the newcomer, and he is awarded the title of legionnaire. He is also issued an "anonymous" - a kind of passport, in which the last name, first name, place, date of birth and information about the parents have been changed.

Other nuances

The ranks of the French Foreign Legion do not differ from those of other French troops. They are divided into three structures - private, non-commissioned officer and officer.

The private includes:

Legionnaire 2nd class.
Legionnaire 1st class.
Corporal.
Corporal Chief.

Non-commissioned officers include:

Sergeant.
Sergeant Chief.
Adjutant.
Adjutant Chief.
Major.

The officers are:

Graduate student.
Ensign.
Lieutenant.
Captain.
Major.
Lieutenant colonel.
Colonel.

While serving in the legion, the entire staff is fully provided with food, accommodation and clothing for a period of two to four years. In addition, recruits are paid a salary of 1,043 euros. Each legionnaire is entitled to 45 days of vacation once a year. The minimum and maximum salaries of the French Legion differ significantly, both the rank and the length of service affect this.

The salary in the French Legion for ordinary soldiers and junior officers ranges from 1205 to 4186 euros, and for officers, the salary is 4850-9000 euros. Plus various allowances for individual military operations and military merit. At the end of 15 years of service, a pension of 1,000 euros is paid, which is a lifelong pension.

Legion in our time

The main activities of the legion today are the following:

It is used on all continents. First of all, it fulfills the tasks set by the French state to protect economic and geopolitical interests.
The formation often participates in various NATO operations - humanitarian, military and peacekeeping. Just as in the period of the founding of the legion, its servants are subordinate only to the supreme commander-in-chief, now - the President of France.
Legionnaires are present in countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo. Under the auspices of the UN and NATO, they try to maintain peace in these countries, but they periodically engage in military clashes with various military formations.
In 2004, the legion took part in a humanitarian mission and helped to rebuild the infrastructure of those countries that suffered from the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia.

History of the French Foreign Legion

First, a little history. The French Foreign Legion was founded under King Louis Philippe I in 1831. The reason for the creation of the Legion was the desire of France to include the territory of Algeria and, accordingly, the need for new combat-ready units.

The basis of the rank and file in the new combat unit were natives of the countries of the South and Western Europe, the officer corps was formed from the veterans of Napoleon's army. In this regard, traditions have been preserved to this day - only a French citizen can receive an officer's rank in a foreign legion, while privates and non-commissioned officers are recruited all over the world.

French legion took part in more than three dozen major conflicts only from Mexico to Vietnam. The most successful foreign legion showed itself in Africa and Indochina, where the positions and interests of France are traditionally strong. Nevertheless, there was also one sensitive defeat in its history. In the spring of 1954, the superior troops of Ho Chi Minh managed to encircle and defeat the French troops, including units of the foreign legion, in the Dien Bien Phu area.

Legionnaires in hot spots: Mali

Now the French Foreign Legion mainly performs peacekeeping functions. Though. If you want to test your strength, then try to join a foreign legion and get to the base in Djibouti. In addition to the specific climatic conditions that only a real man can withstand, it is really dangerous in this small country. And the recent events around the conflict in Mali gave some parts of the French Foreign Legion a chance to prove themselves in battle with a serious enemy.

Some units of the legion are already in Mali and several are on alert to be sent to the conflict zone. The legionnaires in the war in Mali will be opposed by well-trained and well-armed formations of the Tuaregs, who proclaimed the independent state of Azavad and Islamic radical militants Salafists from Al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Din and other groups.

It should be said that there are a lot of Russian guys among the fighters of the foreign legion. They now face a difficult task - a new battle against global terrorism. Do not underestimate the capabilities of the Islamists in Africa and think that Mali is too far from Russia. This African country possesses large deposits of uranium, and it is suicidal to allow extreme radicals, who, in principle, are not capable of dialogue with Christian civilization, to reach the sources of such raw materials.

Therefore, we should now wish military luck to the Russian guys in the foreign legion. While waging a war in Mali now, they are doing everything possible so that we do not have to wage it on the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities for the foreseeable future.

Legionary. Who is he?

There is a category of men for whom the adrenaline received in Everyday life, even with the help of extreme sports. Young people who want to go through a real school, capable of forging men out of them, but for whom the armed forces of their home country not exotic and spicy enough.

Former career soldiers who have not reached their fortieth birthday, wishing to once again feel the incomparable smell of gun steel and powder gases. Or just tough guys who are tired of the daily hustle and bustle. All of these are potential legionnaires. By the way, unlike early period, those who have serious problems with the law in their country will not be able to enter the service in the French Foreign Legion. Nowadays, information about the past of candidates is checked through Interpol channels.

French Foreign Legion. How to get?

The Foreign Legion of France provides an opportunity to join its ranks for almost everyone. To do this, you must be:

- a man (women are not accepted into the Legion under any circumstances);
- between the ages of 17 and 40 (17-year-olds will need permission from their parents certified by the French Embassy);
- physically fit for service in a foreign legion;
- the holder of a valid passport and is legally located in France.

Immediately forget about all offers of "help" when entering a foreign legion. The French president himself will not be able to influence the decision on the candidate's admission. Those who know French can search for information themselves on the request "legion etrangere recrutement". First of all, you need to contact one of the recruiting information points in mainland France.

They can be found in the following cities: Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Nantes, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Perpignan and Aubagne. After you will have a preliminary interview and initial medical examination at the selection center in Paris. Then the main stage of selection begins at the base in Aubagne near Marseille.

Candidates for admission to a foreign legion pass three types of tests: - psychotechnical. You will be asked many questions about attention, memory and logical thinking as well as your background in additional tests. At this stage, it is extremely important to answer truthfully, believe me, experienced psychologists will quickly be able to recognize deception and then your chances of admission will be close to zero. By the way, think again if you want to appear “too smart” on tests. After all, the Legion is not Oxford. - in-depth medical examination.

Be prepared for the fact that close attention will be paid to the health of your teeth, so we advise you to visit your dentist in advance. It is also imperative to have a medical card with you. Candidates with such serious illnesses as hepatitis, HIV, diabetes and some others have no chances of joining the French Legion. - physical tests.

You will be asked to pass fairly light standards, for example, pull yourself up on the bar at least 4 times, climb without using your legs to a five-meter height on a rope, do 40 times a standard press exercise, as well as a running standard: shuttle run or endurance run (at least 2800 meters in 12 minutes). As you can see, the standards are inferior even to the requirements of the RF Armed Forces.

In case of non-admission, you will be given a monetary compensation - about 30 euros per day of stay in candidates. If there are no problems at this stage, then you can be congratulated on finding a new family - Etrangere Legion! After signing a five-year contract, you receive an "anonymous" - a document in which your name, date and place of birth will be changed. By the end of the first year of service, applicants can apply and, upon positive consideration, serve in the legion under their own name.

The material side. Salary, benefits of legionnaires

Those wishing to earn money are interested in a salary in a foreign legion. Do not believe if you are told about the mountains of gold. Only a private who enters the service will be able to earn at least 1043 euros, and will also receive free room and board. In addition, there are a number of allowances depending on the region of service, participation in hostilities, length of service, rank.

By far the highest paid unit is the 13th Foreign Legion Semi-Brigade, based in Djibouti. A rank-and-file legionnaire 13 DBLE, after a year of service, can count on no less than 3500 euros per month of "net" salary. Although, the Russian legionnaires who are now fighting the Islamists in Mali may have even greater allowances.

Legion soldiers are entitled to an annual leave of 45 working days. Those who have served for 3 years are eligible to apply for French citizenship. Legionnaires injured in a military operation have an unconditional right to obtain French citizenship. For eight years of impeccable service, there is a solid bonus of two annual salaries. Those who have served in the foreign legion of France for more than 19 years guarantee themselves a lifetime pension - at least a thousand euros.

Foreign Legion Service

So, after being accepted into the ranks of the French Foreign Legion, you have to go through the training stage on the basis of the 4th regiment. During this time, you will learn the traditions of the French legion, undergo mountain and technical training, make a series of difficult marches. Be prepared for the fact that the loads may exceed those that are familiar to those who have gone through our "training". Not everyone is able to withstand them and become a full-fledged fighter of a foreign legion. The final test will be the "White Cap March", during which the recruits will have to overcome more than 100 km of cross-country with full gear.

After that, return to Aubagne prior to distribution to the unit and the place of permanent deployment. At the moment, the foreign legion of France includes 11 regiments. Seven of them have permanent deployment sites in mainland France, as well as an airborne regiment in Corsica, an infantry regiment guarding the French cosmodrome in Guiana, a unit in the Comoros and a semi-brigade in Djibouti.

In addition, parts of the legion can be quickly deployed anywhere in the world, as it is now in Mali, for example. A career in a foreign legion is made solely on the basis of success in the service. According to statistics, every fourth legionnaire eventually becomes a non-commissioned officer, and every tenth reaches the officer's rank.

Absolutely every legionnaire is a superbly trained fighter. At the same time, the positions of a cook, musician, computer scientist or paramedic are also replenished from the legion, without involving strangers... The fighters are given the opportunity to leave the location of the unit after 17:00, but be sure to be present at the morning formation at six o'clock. However, one should not forget that the Foreign Legion is not an institution of noble maidens, but a place where real professionals of military affairs are forged, therefore, not everyone will have the strength to be fired.

The legion consists of people from 136 countries of the world, which means that manifestations of racism are a direct path to expulsion. About the same as in Soviet army the traditions of "fellow countrymen" were strong, and they are valid in the foreign legion. A significant percentage of the total are immigrants from Slavic countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia and others. Naturally, they try to stick together and help each other.

Many Russian guys are naturally interested in the issue of bullying. Of course, as in any army in the world, this phenomenon is to some extent present in the French foreign legion, but on a much smaller scale than in our army. In addition, the command, to put it mildly, does not welcome manifestations of bullying. V work time it is customary to speak French. Please note that the relationship between sergeants and privates differs from those in the post-Soviet space. Especially if you want to serve in the legion longer.

Foreign Legion units

In total, about 7,500 people serve in the foreign legion of France. This is not very much, but the highest professionalism of everyone, from private to brigadier general, makes the French legion a formidable fighting force in conflicts of any level.

One of the more exotic duty stations is the Kourou base in French Guiana, where the 3rd REI (3rd Legion Infantry Regiment) is stationed. This military unit is engaged in the protection of the cosmodrome. Those who get there should prepare in advance for the difficult tropical climate, swamps and hordes of insects. This will be especially felt by those who undertake an internship at the C.E.P.E. in the middle of the equatorial forest. Weigh it well, can you handle such a test?

More comfortable living conditions, but no less simple service, promises distribution to the 2nd Parachute Regiment in Corsica. Despite the fact that here at your service there will be many bars and cafes right on the territory of the unit, you will never forget for a minute that you are a Legionnaire and what is behind this proud name. 2 R.E.P. - this is a regiment in which they try to collect the best of the best. Each battalion of the regiment has its own narrow specialization from night operations and urban assault to mountain and sabotage operations.

The oldest unit that closely guards the traditions of the Legion is the 1st Regiment, located in Aubagne and working with recruits. The main administrative services are concentrated here.

There is also a kind of "academy" for officers and sergeants. This is the 4th Regiment, stationed at Castelnaudary in France. Young legionnaires are also trained here.

The 1st Armored Cavalry Regiment is located in Orange and is considered a powerful offensive unit within the Legion. The regiment is regularly sent on combat missions to different parts of the planet.

I am also ready to quickly leave the French Nimes and arrive at the new duty station and the 2nd Infantry Regiment.

Avignon is the seat of the only Legion unit that does not leave mainland France in peacetime. It is the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and is considered one of the best of its kind in the world. It also includes a unit of elite swimmers-saboteurs.

The 13th semi-brigade in Djibouti is another place where not every physically and psychologically strong man can endure service.

There is also a small special unit in the Comoros - D.L.E.M.

In some of these regiments and units of the French Foreign Legion, service is a little easier, in others it is more difficult, but each of them trains first-class specialists, and the way to this lies through persistent daily training, sweat and possibly blood.

Russian traditions in the French legion

After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the defeat of the white movement in the civil war, a significant number of former officers joined the ranks of the legion. tsarist army, distinguished by excellent preparation and discipline. Largely, thanks to the Russians, France was able to achieve great success in the conflicts of the 20s against the Tuareg, Druze, Kabil and other rebellious tribes of Africa.

It was not for nothing that recruiters began hunting for tsarist officers immediately after the entry of Wrangel's squadron into the port of Constantinople. Five representatives of that generation received the ranks of generals in the foreign legion of France.

From the beginning of the 90s, the number of Russians in the Legion began to grow again. Basically, these were not novices in military affairs, but retired officers of the Soviet Army or retired sergeants, who often had experience in military operations, including in Africa - Angola and other countries.

Joining the French foreign legion for Russian guys in those years was a chance to start life from scratch. Much was falling apart in our army and society, nevertheless, when the Motherland again needed real defenders, many legionnaires returned to defend Russia during the wars in Chechnya, without demanding any payment for this.

In whatever division of the Legion the Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians served - everywhere they were one of the best fighters, the most persistent and well-trained. And now we wish good luck to the brave Russian guys in the foreign legion of France in their fight against al-Qaeda and their allies in Mali, a country otherwise called "African Afghanistan".

Although, is it worth looking for a distant coast, if we have formations and branches of troops, at least no less legendary, for example, special forces Internal Troops, military intelligence. Try to go through first, before talking about the fact that there is no worthy army elite in Russia, Belarus or Ukraine.

In the first third of the 19th century, France planned an invasion of Algeria. An expeditionary force was needed for the military operation. King Louis-Philippe planned to create a new formation with the involvement of foreigners, who were in abundance in the capital at that time. Thus, the government got rid of unwanted elements, including those who were at odds with the law. Since then, it has been customary not to ask the recruit's name. The officers were appointed from Napoleon's former army. On March 9, 1831, the monarch issues a decree stating that the French Foreign Legion can only be used outside mainland France. Despite the fact that the compound is part of the French ground forces, in emergency cases it is subordinate to only one person - the head of state. The government can dispose of fighters without the approval of the National Assembly, which turns the Legion into universal tool achieving political goals.

Legendary unit

For one hundred and eighty-four years of the existence of the expeditionary corps, about 650,000 people served in it. More than 36,000 of them died in the fighting. The unit was not spared by the colonial operations of France and not a single significant warrior of the world. The French Foreign Legion took part in two world wars and in more than thirty local armed conflicts in Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East, and even in Mexico. It happened to him to fight on the territory of Russia: in November 1854, the Legion took part in one of the episodes of the Crimean War - in the battle of Inkerman. The largest number it numbered at the beginning of the First World War - almost 43,000 fighters of more than fifty nationalities.

Elite of the armed forces of Europe

Over the decades, the French Foreign Legion has evolved from a band of thugs and renegades into an elite unit of constant combat readiness. The personnel from 140 countries of the world numbers 5,545 privates, 1,741 non-commissioned officers and 413 officers. 11 units of the Legion are deployed both on the territory of France itself (continental, on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia) and in overseas possessions. Among them:

Kuru (French Guiana) - The European Space Center is located here.
Mururoa Atoll Pacific- a test site for nuclear weapons.
Mayotte Island (Comoros Archipelago) is an overseas department of France.
UAE - protection of oil refining facilities.

Also, the regiments are deployed in Afghanistan, New Caledonia, Cote d'Ivoire and Djibouti. The Foreign French Legion carries out tasks to restore and maintain peace, and also carries out special operations in the interests of foreign policy states (fighting in the jungle, neutralizing terrorists, freeing hostages). The personnel are involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance. The command is located in the city of Aubagne, 15 km from Marseille.

The compound is equipped with the most advanced military and engineering equipment and small arms. The standard weapon is a French-made Famas G2 5.56 mm automatic rifle. The fighters have at their disposal 81-mm and 120-mm mortars, effective sniper systems, guided anti-tank missile systems, automatic anti-aircraft guns, and armored personnel carriers. According to many analysts, the combat training of the foreign corps is much higher than that of similar formations in other European countries.

Heraldry, form and unique traditions

The emblem of the French Foreign Legion is a picture of the rising flame of an exploding grenade, stylized as 19th century graphics. This kind of coat of arms is also depicted on the formation standard. The flag is a diagonally divided vertical rectangle. The upper green segment means the new homeland of the legionnaires, the red one is the blood of a warrior. During the battle, the flag is turned over - blood is at home.

The motto is the exclamation: "Legio Patria Nostra" (Legion is our homeland). The uniform of the French Foreign Legion contains some extravagant attributes that at first glance have nothing to do with military affairs. Legionnaires marching in a ceremonial square are dressed in gray trousers. Waist intercepted a blue sheep wool scarf, its length is exactly 4.2 meters and its width is 40 cm. from the merciless African sun. For decades, the boots of the French Foreign Legion have remained unchanged. The shoes are made of nubuck. Despite the apparent massiveness, it is very comfortable for use in the desert. It is made in two standard colors: black and chestnut. The cap badge depicts the same a grenade explosion with seven flashes of fire, but that's not all.

March of the Pioneers

During parades and other festive events, you can watch an exclusive sight: marching soldiers in strange ammunition. By the way, the legionnaires' hammered step is original, slow: 88 steps per minute - one and a half times less than the traditionally accepted one. This underlines the privilege and special mission of the desert soldiers on the far fringes. You can't march on the sand too much. There is also a unique category of warriors called pioneers. The Pioneers of the French Foreign Legion are an elite unit that is at the forefront of any parade. These warriors look intimidating: over their uniforms, they put on a buffalo-skin apron on one strap, and a one and a half kilogram ax rests on their shoulders.

But in fact, there is no bloodlust in this guise. Pioneers are sappers, those who ensure the advancement of military units in any situation. They clear roads and build crossings, take care of logistics. The sappers of the foreign corps are the only unit in the French army that has preserved the tradition of the procession of warriors with axes since the 18th century. Although there is still a hidden subtext: the French Foreign Legion is always ready to clear the way for the following regular units of the French army.

Where is recruited

The personnel is recruited from men between the ages of 17 and 40. If anyone is interested in the question of how to get into the French Foreign Legion, then you should know that recruiting points are located only in France. Fifteen bureaus are available in largest cities, including in Paris. Embassies, consulates and the Legion itself do not provide any assistance in the issuance of migration documents. Moreover, a recruit intending to cross the threshold of a mobilization point must be in the country legally. It should not be overlooked that mercenarism is punishable by law in many CIS countries, but there are legal loopholes here. You can go on a tourist visa to one of the Schengen countries, and then by train or bus get to any recruiting point. The central filtration camp is located near Marseille, in Aubagne. From collection points in French cities, volunteers are sent here once or twice a week.

Recruit Challenges

The requirements for recruits are simple: stamina and health. The candidate will have a physical fitness test, a standard general medical examination and psychological tests. The physical training exam consists of a cross-country race: you need to run at least 2.8 km in 12 minutes. You need to pull up on the crossbar at least five times. Press the press - at least 40 times. If the candidate is physically prepared, then the next step is a standard medical examination procedure for the absence of diseases or their complete cure. Medical records must show good health. The absence of 4 teeth is allowed, but the rest must be healthy. If at this stage they were not rejected, then a series of psychological tests, including on mental stability and attentiveness. A volunteer who has passed all three types of selection is offered a five-year contract. Knowledge of French is not required. The selection lasts for two weeks. After the conclusion of the contract, identity documents are withdrawn from the recruit, and in exchange they issue the so-called anonymous - a metric with a fictitious name, surname and place of birth.

Material reward

Service in this unit is very prestigious. All hired personnel (from privates to corporals) are provided with food, uniforms and housing. The Elysee Palace has long abandoned universal military service. The recruitment of the armed forces is based on a contract basis. One of the highest paid military units in the Fifth Republic's armed forces is the French Foreign Legion. Salary depends on many components. Recruits receive a monthly salary of € 1,040. The allowances are based on seniority, service in an airborne unit, in difficult climatic conditions of overseas departments, participation in foreign missions and military operations. The approximate range of material remuneration after a year of service is as follows:

Military personnel are entitled to 45 days of vacation per year. After 19 years of conscientious service, legionnaires receive a lifetime pension of € 1,000. A former legionnaire can receive pension payments in any region of the world.

Service growth

The first fixed-term contract is signed for five years. Upon its completion, the serviceman, at his discretion, can extend the contract for a period of six months to ten years. Officers in the Legion can only be persons with French citizenship who have graduated from the military educational establishments... During the first five years of service, a distinguished legionnaire can be awarded the rank of corporal, and after three years he is given the opportunity to apply for French citizenship or obtain a residence permit. In 1999, the Senate passed a law according to which a legionnaire injured during hostilities has the right to obtain citizenship, regardless of the length of service. The awards of the French Foreign Legion are the same as in other formations of the armed forces. As in any professional army, they do not provide any benefits. According to statistics, every fourth legionnaire is promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer. In addition, if desired, military personnel can purchase civilian specialties: from artisan (bricklayer, carpenter) to high-tech (system administrator).

Only chance

The principle of recruiting enlisted personnel from foreigners remains to this day. For many residents of third world countries, serving in the French Foreign Legion is the only chance to break out into the people. A third of the personnel are from Eastern Europe, a quarter are representatives of the Latin American world, the rest are French who want to start life from scratch. After five years of service, the natives of the country are given the opportunity to change any two letters in the surname and receive new documents.

Our compatriots in the Legion

The Russians first appeared in the French Foreign Legion in 1921, when the First Cavalry Regiment was formed from the remnants of Wrangel's defeated army. At the same time, the careers of Y. M. Sverdlov's elder brother and M. Gorky's godson Z. A. Peshkov began. Zinovy Alekseevich rose to the rank of lieutenant general. From 1917 to 1919, the future Marshal served in the 1st Moroccan Division Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky. Nowadays, according to various estimates, the Legion includes about a thousand immigrants from the CIS countries, including several hundred Russian-speaking. Compatriots in good standing, many have real combat experience.

French Foreign Legion. Reviews. Service

Those who have dedicated many years of their lives to the Legion speak of a special atmosphere of fighting brotherhood. This spirit in the first months of service is brought up by ruthless drill. All notions of a past life are mercilessly etched out of the recruit. It is not for nothing that unflattering comparisons are attributed to this squad: "a legion of lost souls", "the grave of Europeans." However, such a psychological selection is quite natural for any special forces unit, which, in essence, is the French Foreign Legion. Reviews of mature and morally strong people are filled with other rhetoric, calling it a legion of honor, in which officers share with soldiers all the hardships of service. Severe disciplinary measures are designed to nurture an iron will, loyalty to the state and the dignity of a warrior. One of our compatriots said that here foreigners are given a great honor: to prove their loyalty to France by dying for her. The result of psychological treatment reflects the anthem of the French Foreign Legion in the best possible way:

"The knight's share is honor and loyalty.
We are proud to be among the ones
Who Goes to Death ".

At the same time, the military leadership pays enough attention to the rest of the legionnaires. The formation has its own hotels for organizing leisure activities. There is also a nursing home for lifelong screening of severely injured people.

The French Foreign Legion is a unique elite military unit that is part of the French Armed Forces. Today it numbers more than 8 thousand legionnaires who represent 136 countries of the world, including France. One thing for all of them is their service to France at a high professional level.

The creation of the legion is associated with the name of King Louis Philip I, who in 1831 signed a decree establishing a single military unit, which were to include several operating regiments. The main goal of the new formation was to carry out combat missions outside the French borders. To exercise the command, officers were recruited from Napoleon's army, and the soldiers accepted not only natives of Italy, Spain or Switzerland, but also French subjects who had certain problems with the law. Thus, the French government got rid of potentially dangerous people, who not only possessed significant combat experience, but could also use it in conditions of political instability within the state.

This policy of the king was very logical. The fact is that the legionnaires were trained for a large-scale campaign to colonize Algeria, which required a large number of troops. But at the same time, France could not send its subjects to Africa. That is why foreigners living in the vicinity of Paris were recruited into the legion.

Around the same time period, the tradition of not asking for the real names of new soldiers also emerged. Many desperate people had the opportunity to start their lives anew, getting rid of their criminal past.

Today, legion rules also allow for the anonymous reception of soldiers. As before, volunteers are not asked for their name or country of residence. After several years of service, each legionnaire has the opportunity to obtain French citizenship and start absolutely new life with a new name.

It should be noted that the first rule of legionnaires is never to surrender. The beginning of this tradition was laid back in 1863, when three legionnaires held more than 2 thousand well-armed Mexican army soldiers. But, taken prisoner, thanks to their courage and valor, they were soon released with honors.

As at the time of its foundation, the French Legion is under the direct control of the head of state.

The modern Foreign Legion consists of armored, infantry, and sapper units. Its structure includes 7 regiments, including the famous paratrooper with special forces GCP, one special detachment, one semi-brigade and one training regiment.

The units of the legion are deployed in the Comoros (Mayotte), in Northeast Africa (Djibouti), in Corsica, in French Guiana (Kourou), as well as directly in France.

The peculiarity of the French Legion is that women are not allowed into it. Contracts are awarded exclusively to men between the ages of 18-40. Initially, the contract is for 5 years. All subsequent contracts can be concluded for periods ranging from six months to 10 years. In the first five-year plan, you can achieve the rank of corporal, but only a person with French citizenship can become an officer. The main body of the unit's officers is, as a rule, career military men who graduated from military educational institutions and chose the legion as their duty station.

Since mercenarism is considered a criminal offense in many countries around the world, recruitment points exist exclusively in France. For all those wishing to join the legion, testing is carried out, which includes three stages: psychotechnical, physical and medical. In addition, each recruit is interviewed separately, during which it is necessary to clearly and truthfully tell his biography. The interview is conducted in three stages, and each new stage is a repetition of the previous one. Thus, a kind of check "for lice" is carried out.

Foreign volunteers can be easily recognized by their white headgear, although only the privates wear it. Unit colors are green and red.

Today, about 7 and a half thousand soldiers are serving in the legion. The training of soldiers allows them to conduct operations in the jungle, at night. They were trained to carry out special operations to neutralize terrorists and rescue hostages. The main task of the legionnaires today is to prevent hostilities. They are called upon to evacuate the population from the combat zone, provide humanitarian assistance, and restore infrastructure in the regions of natural disasters.

So, there is information that the French Foreign Legion provided serious support in the conduct of the ground operation during the events in Libya. In August 2011, the legionnaires managed to eliminate the fuel and food supply base, which was the main one for Gaddafi's troops. According to some reports, several companies of the legion were transferred to Libya from Tunisia or Algeria. A little wound, in the area of Ez-Zawiya, the Foreign Legion, with small losses, managed to break into the center of the city, providing free access to fighters from Benghazi. The command of the legion hoped to raise the Berber population to the uprising, but this was not done.

The participation of the French Legion in the Libyan war is denied in every possible way by the French authorities, despite the fact that the press is actively discussing this issue. This position of Paris is quite understandable, since any invasion of the territory of Libya would contradict the UN resolution regarding this state, which only refers to the closure of the airspace. A similar situation it was already before, when in 1978 in Zaire the French government recognized that the Foreign Legion took part in the military conflict only after the legionnaires had fulfilled their mission.

The Arab Spring has shown that foreign military personnel are present in many conflict zones. In addition to Libya, the French Legion took part in hostilities in Syria. So, in Homs, 150 French legionnaires, mainly paratroopers and snipers, were arrested, and in Zadabani - 120. And although no one can confirm that these were precisely legionnaires, this assumption is quite logical, since this unit is staffed not only from France, but also from other states. Thus, France again has the opportunity to argue that there are no French citizens in Syria.

Another place where the French Foreign Legion has also been noted is the conflict that erupted in Côte d'Ivoire. One gets the impression that France has set itself the goal of creating the most aggressive image for itself on the entire European continent. Very often Paris starts the game "big", regardless of the interests of its allies in the North Atlantic alliance. So, in April 2011, French paratroopers occupied the airport of the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan. Thus, the total number of the French military corps stationed there was about 1,400 people.

The total number of the UN peacekeeping contingent in this country is 9 thousand people, of which there were only 900 French people. France independently made a decision to increase the size of its military corps, without coordinating actions with the UN leadership. The basis of the French military corps is the military of the Foreign Legion, who have been taking part in Operation Unicorn for several years. In addition, the French government said that the contingent arriving in Côte d'Ivoire is coordinating with the unoci troops, thus actually recognizing that in addition to the "Unicorn", France is also conducting its own independent operation on the territory of the country.

Thus, the French Foreign Legion is sent to those areas where France seeks to defend its interests within or under the cover of the European Union or the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as where there are certain historical responsibilities or threats to the lives of French citizens.